JavaScript is essential for creating modern, interactive Web sites. But, unlike HTML and CSS, JavaScript is a true programming language with complex rules that are challenging for most Web designers to learn. In JavaScript: The Missing Manual, bestselling author David McFarland teaches you how to use JavaScript in sophisticated ways -- even if you have little or no programming experience. In a clear, entertaining way, the book starts out by teaching you how to build a basic JavaScript program. Then, once you've mastered the structure and terminology, you'll learn how to use advanced JavaScript tools to add useful interactivity to your sites quickly and painlessly, rather than scripting everything from scratch. To jump-start your progress, the book offers several "living examples" -- step-by-step tutorials for building Web site components with JavaScript using raw materials, such as graphics and half-completed Web pages, that you can download from the book's companion Web site. In this book, you will learn:

• How to get started. The book introduces the building blocks of JavaScript, and general tips on computer programming. Learn to add scripts to a Web page; store and manipulate information; communicate with the browser window; respond to events like mouse clicks and form submissions; and identify and modify HTML.

• How to build Web Page Features. McFarland provides real-world examples of JavaScript in action. Learn to create pop-up navigation bars, enhance HTML tables, build an interactive photo gallery, and make Web forms more usable. Create interesting user interfaces with tabbed panels, accordion panels and pop-up dialog boxes.

• How to troubleshoot and debug. The book will teach you how to avoid the ten most common errors new programmers make, and how to find and fix bugs.

• How to communicate with the Web server. In addition to basic JavaScript, this manual covers Ajax, the approach that made JavaScript glamorous. Learn to use JavaScript to communicate with a server so that your Web pages can receive information without having to reload.

If you want to put JavaScript to work right away without getting tangled up in code, JavaScript: The Missing Manual is the best book available.

Amazon.com® Reader Reviews (Ranked by Helpfulness)

Average Amazon.com® Rating:  Based on 27 Ratings

Extremely elementary treatment + poor coding style examples - 2009-08-06
Reviewer Rating:
As other reviewers have commented, this book is extremely elementary and not really suitable for anyone who already knows any C-like programming language (C, C++, java, Perl, etc.). Further, the decision to combine a rock bottom entry level introduction to Javascript with the advanced and somewhat confusing jQuery framework is also questionable (how does this make this the missing *javascript* manual?). A small quibble: the examples given in the book use a rather poor coding style. For example starting an else if on the same line of the closing right bracket of an if just leads to completely unreadable code. Of course style is a matter of taste. In light of the existence of the exhaustive "Javascript: The Definitive Guide" by David Flanagan (recommended) ", calling this book "Javascript: The Missing Manual" is both inaccurate and demonstrates a fair amount of hubris.

The Title Should be JQuery: The Missing Manual - 2010-02-05
Reviewer Rating:
This book is worthless as an introductory text or even as "Manual" for Javascript. I am in a class learning Javascript and bought this book as a bolster to Dietel's worthless book (the school is trying to dump it as it is worthless). In this book the fundamentals one needs to know about Javascript is handed off to JQuery in this book...it is definitely NOT a missing manual on Javascript.

All this is not to say the book itself is worthless as ONCE YOU KNOW Javascript then the short cuts with JQuery are extremely beneficial. My experience with the Missing Manual series has to this point been great. They are usually books that teach you the program is greater depth than the manual that came with it and really show you the inner workings of the program.

All this to say as a Missing Manual it is a one star worthless book. As a text for those that know Javascript and really want to see what a framework like JQuery can do to speed your work flow its a five star. Since the book is a Missing Manual it gets one star.

Another Winner From David Sawyer McFarland - 2010-01-18
Reviewer Rating:
As a number of other reviewers have noted, the author of this book previously wrote a successful MM book on CSS. David has carried forward his technique of lucidly explaining the principles and then following up with a relevant, engaging tutorial. His writing style is to be commended - never condescending, pedantic, obscure, or tedious. While the tone is good-natured throughout the book, the tone is intelligent and focused, never goofy, repetitive, or facetious.

This is an empowering book. Sawyer McFarland lays out the basics, provides templates for you to type in the relevant code (without having to type in entire pages of mundane supporting code), and lets you experience the power of JavaScript programming yourself. While it's impossible to explain JavaScript mastery in a single book, he does the next best thing: gives a substantial introduction to jQuery, arguably the leading JavaScript library and a significant tool for JavaScript programming. There need not be any debate on whether libraries are legitimate tools for JavaScript programmers, just as there is no debate on the legitimacy of libraries for Java or C++.

I have read this book twice and refer to it frequently. I'm looking forward to seeing what David Sawyer McFarland writes next.

AWESOME!!! - 2009-11-14
Reviewer Rating:
Really good purchase... I got it really fast, even faster than I thought... Would definitely buy again!!!

Great. For beginners, but great. - 2009-10-02
Reviewer Rating:
The writing style was good. An excellent book for what it is. I would love the Advanced Javascript The Missing Manual. Again no complaints about this book.

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